Edinburgh boss eyes more top stars

Monday 15 January 2007 00:05 BST

Edinburgh Rugby boss Alex Carruthers hopes the capture of Stephen Larkham can help lure more world-class talent to the club.

Carruthers set his sights on landing the Australia stand-off when he took charge of the Murrayfield outfit eight months ago - and on Monday he got his man as the club announced the signing of the 32-year-old Wallabies star.

Carruthers said: "One guy doesn't make a team so hopefully he will be the first of several - but I think it also puts out a statement to the guys who are in the team."

He added: "Obviously some people do get nervous, but we are saying we are here for the long haul.

"We want to build the team around established, current Scottish internationals, but by the same token we want to have experienced professionals from overseas so we don't get ravaged during the autumn Test period and the Six Nations.

"We will continue to look at people, and if we can make Edinburgh attractive to them, as we have done in Stephen's case, then we will continue to recruit them."

Edinburgh head coach Lynn Howells was equally enthusiastic about the prospect of working with Larkham, saying: "This is a young squad and we needed decision-makers and leaders to help these younger players on, and he certainly gives us that.

"He's obviously a professional and he's going to bring you what you need on the field. But the family part of it, and the commitment to come over with such a young family, suggests that he is going to bring a lot to the squad off the field as well.

"The biggest positive coming out of this is that we have got a guy on the other side of the world who is willing to commit to something that is stable in an environment that isn't stable.

"Edinburgh's new owners have put their hands up and said they are willing to commit for five years, and that has to have a big influence on any recruitment drive we undertake, and it certainly makes it easier as far as the coaching structure is concerned because we can plan ahead."